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Kidnapping for ransom on the rise in violence-torn Manipur
Manipur witnessed a series of kidnapping of people for ransom by militants as insurgents of different outfits intensified violent activities throughout the year that is coming to close.
Manipur witnessed a series of kidnapping of people for ransom by militants as insurgents of different outfits intensified violent activities throughout the year that is coming to close.
The most shocking incident in the year was the kidnapping
and killing of eight-year old Lungnila Elizabeth, daughter of
state general administration minister Francis Ngajokpa, by
unknown militants.
The militants who abducted the standard three student after school at airport area on November 04 had demanded a ransom of Rs15 lakhs out of which Rs 10 lakhs had been paid, sources said adding that hundreds of social organisations and students bodies had demanded safe release of the girl.
However, the girl was killed by the kidnappers and her body was found in a sack inside a pond at Sangaiporou area near her school on November 12.
Different organisations had launched protests against the gruesome killing for several weeks but police are yet to arrest the killers or get any clue, sources said. Elizabeth was the second victim of kidnapping incident in the state in 2003.
Underground Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL), a militant outfit, had kidnapped businessman Manoj Sethi on April 19 and demanded Rs10 crores for his safe release, sources said adding that the amount was later reduced to Rs 1 crore. In spite of several protests by different social organisations and appeal for safe release, Sethi was killed on May 27 at Waikhong area in interior thoubal district. Later in a statement, the KYKL owned the killing of Sethi for non-payment of the ransom amount.
Militants of Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) had abducted German national Heinrich Wolfgang from Maphou area in Senapati district on March 23 and reportedly demanded ransom of Rs 1 crore, sources said.
Wolfgang came to Manipur to inspect the activities of an NGO funded by a German farm, sources said adding that there was a strong protest against the kidnapping by several social organisations who also demanded immediate and safe release of the foreigner.
KLA later denied demanding any ransom and said Wolfgang has been picked up to draw his attention to spend funds provided by the German farm to Kuki-settled area in Manipur. The German was freed on April 09.
A little-known Muslim outfit, People's United Liberation Front (PULF), had kidnapped a Central government official Prabin Gupta and two Manipur Industry Department officials S Joykumar Singh and H Nishikanta while they were going to inspect an office at border area on May 05 and demanded ransom.
The three later escaped after some days after struggling with the kidnappers, official sources said.
The militants of different outfits abducted several officials, government contractors and rich people for ransom, sources said.
The year also saw intensification of insurgent activities and killing of civilians in insurgency-related violence. On August 14, a powerful bomb planted by separatist People's Liberation Army exploded at Lilong area near here killing six civilian bus passengers including three women while four other civilians were killed in a crossfire between militants and CRPF at interior Sugnu area on September 20.
The year witnessed exchange of fire between militants and security forces, ambushes on security posts at different parts of the state, sources said adding that at least seventy security personnel had been killed in extremist-related violence.
PLA militants also attacked Chief Minister Ibobi Singh on July 27 at a place in interior thoubal district but Singh escaped unhurt. Two Manipur rifles jawans were killed in that incident.
Hardly a day passed without reports of insurgency-related crime in Manipur in 2003, sources said adding that factional fight among different underground groups has also increased.
Ten militants of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipa (PREPAK) and a civilian were killed on November 17 at Setupur area in Bishenpur district in a factional fight, sources said.
The Chief Minister also dropped three ministers-- Chungkhokai Doungel (forest), Wungnaosing Keishing (excise) and L Radhakishore (education) from Congress-led secular Progressive Front Ministry on November 05 for anti-party activities. The three denied the charges levelled against them and said they had been dropped because they failed to turn at a dinner party hosted by the Chief Minister.
Police and security forces involved in the counter insurgency operations in trouble-torn Manipur also stepped up security measures and killed at least ninety militants of different outfits in the year.
The militants who abducted the standard three student after school at airport area on November 04 had demanded a ransom of Rs15 lakhs out of which Rs 10 lakhs had been paid, sources said adding that hundreds of social organisations and students bodies had demanded safe release of the girl.
However, the girl was killed by the kidnappers and her body was found in a sack inside a pond at Sangaiporou area near her school on November 12.
Different organisations had launched protests against the gruesome killing for several weeks but police are yet to arrest the killers or get any clue, sources said. Elizabeth was the second victim of kidnapping incident in the state in 2003.
Underground Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL), a militant outfit, had kidnapped businessman Manoj Sethi on April 19 and demanded Rs10 crores for his safe release, sources said adding that the amount was later reduced to Rs 1 crore. In spite of several protests by different social organisations and appeal for safe release, Sethi was killed on May 27 at Waikhong area in interior thoubal district. Later in a statement, the KYKL owned the killing of Sethi for non-payment of the ransom amount.
Militants of Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) had abducted German national Heinrich Wolfgang from Maphou area in Senapati district on March 23 and reportedly demanded ransom of Rs 1 crore, sources said.
Wolfgang came to Manipur to inspect the activities of an NGO funded by a German farm, sources said adding that there was a strong protest against the kidnapping by several social organisations who also demanded immediate and safe release of the foreigner.
KLA later denied demanding any ransom and said Wolfgang has been picked up to draw his attention to spend funds provided by the German farm to Kuki-settled area in Manipur. The German was freed on April 09.
A little-known Muslim outfit, People's United Liberation Front (PULF), had kidnapped a Central government official Prabin Gupta and two Manipur Industry Department officials S Joykumar Singh and H Nishikanta while they were going to inspect an office at border area on May 05 and demanded ransom.
The three later escaped after some days after struggling with the kidnappers, official sources said.
The militants of different outfits abducted several officials, government contractors and rich people for ransom, sources said.
The year also saw intensification of insurgent activities and killing of civilians in insurgency-related violence. On August 14, a powerful bomb planted by separatist People's Liberation Army exploded at Lilong area near here killing six civilian bus passengers including three women while four other civilians were killed in a crossfire between militants and CRPF at interior Sugnu area on September 20.
The year witnessed exchange of fire between militants and security forces, ambushes on security posts at different parts of the state, sources said adding that at least seventy security personnel had been killed in extremist-related violence.
PLA militants also attacked Chief Minister Ibobi Singh on July 27 at a place in interior thoubal district but Singh escaped unhurt. Two Manipur rifles jawans were killed in that incident.
Hardly a day passed without reports of insurgency-related crime in Manipur in 2003, sources said adding that factional fight among different underground groups has also increased.
Ten militants of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipa (PREPAK) and a civilian were killed on November 17 at Setupur area in Bishenpur district in a factional fight, sources said.
The Chief Minister also dropped three ministers-- Chungkhokai Doungel (forest), Wungnaosing Keishing (excise) and L Radhakishore (education) from Congress-led secular Progressive Front Ministry on November 05 for anti-party activities. The three denied the charges levelled against them and said they had been dropped because they failed to turn at a dinner party hosted by the Chief Minister.
Police and security forces involved in the counter insurgency operations in trouble-torn Manipur also stepped up security measures and killed at least ninety militants of different outfits in the year.